The Defense Equipment Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Defense has launched the "Security Technology Research Promotion System" since 2015, recruiting researchers from society and universities and providing financial support. As of 2023, 9 public recruitments have been conducted, which have had a wide-ranging impact on research directions in Japanese universities and have received active support from some universities. But there are also prestigious universities that refuse to participate. The projects participated by the university research team mainly focus on basic scientific and technological topics in fundamental disciplines. The research results are required to be publicly published and can be used for both civilian and military purposes, promoting the development of Japan's military technology and opening up a path for the development of dual-use military and civilian technologies.

1、 Overview of the History and Current Status of Japanese Universities' Participation in Military Research

Discussed the history and current situation of Japanese universities participating in military research. In 1950, a Japanese academic conference declared that scientific research for war purposes would not be conducted, resulting in Japanese universities not participating in military projects for a long time. In 2013, the Japanese government issued the National Security Strategy, advocating for strengthening the partnership between the Ministry of Defense and universities and research institutions, and promoting the promotion of dual-use military and civilian technologies. In 2015, the Japanese Ministry of Defense established the Defense Equipment Agency, which recruited basic scientific and technological research through project forms and funded basic research projects that could be used for military purposes, known as the "Security Technology Research Promotion System". This system recruits projects annually and provides research funding, allowing the Japanese Ministry of Defense to obtain advanced research results. From 2015 to 2017, the project's funding increased from 300 million yen to 11 billion yen. At present, about 100 universities in Japan have the ability to participate in military research projects, but some well-known universities are still unwilling to participate. A 2016 survey showed that over 60% of Japanese universities do not have policies or regulations prohibiting or restricting military research. The Japanese Ministry of Defense has invested heavily in advanced technology research at universities to promote the use of defense equipment related products. Twelve universities including Northeastern University, Kyushu University, and Hiroshima University chose not to participate in this, citing the possibility of being induced to conduct research directly related to military technology development and application. The Japanese National Research Institute has also decided not to participate in military basic research projects funded by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The Japanese academic conference criticized that government intervention is serious and there are many problems, but the existing principle of the academic community not participating in military research is being shaken and severely impacted.

2、 Taking the University of Tokyo as an example, analyze the military research and development system of Japanese universities

As a national university in Japan and one of the earliest established universities in Asia, the University of Tokyo has had internal regulations prohibiting participation in military research throughout its history. However, in recent years, some colleges have begun to participate in research on dual-use military and civilian technologies, reflecting a shift in the attitude of Japanese universities towards military research. This transformation is influenced by internal factors and external environmental stimuli, including technological patriotism and government push for "regulation" and financial "temptations", while external environmental stimuli include security threats such as China's rise and North Korea's missile tests. The participation of Japanese universities such as the University of Tokyo in military research is mainly through multi-party cooperation and innovation mechanisms, with a focus on research areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics engineering, materials engineering, and other dual-use technologies. The research and development characteristics of military projects in Japanese universities are: not direct military projects, but dual-use technology research and development; Project selection and funding support led by the Defense Equipment Department of the Ministry of Defense; The project selection ratio is low and is decided by an external expert review committee; Abundant funding, no confidentiality requirements, and the degree of openness of research results is determined by the researchers. The new cooperation model between Japan's Defense Equipment Agency and universities includes linking military civilian dual-use technology research and equipment development, using the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) model to support the development of cutting-edge defense technologies, promoting unmanned, intelligent networked, high-energy laser technology, and improving the functional performance of existing equipment.

3、 Conclusion

Fumio Kishida promotes the implementation of security documents and strengthens the trend of cooperation between Japanese academia and military industry. Due to the restrictions of the Peace Constitution, we currently rely mainly on the comprehensive defense industry. With the acceleration of military academic integration, Japan will transition to the stage of military civilian integration. Under the innovation of information technology, highly intelligent and unmanned products will become the mainstream field of cooperation. The government's military expansion strategy will promote cooperation between universities in military technology research and development, and enhance Japan's military strength, but the process may be tortuous and lengthy.